Kilimanjaro Travel Info

Mount Kilimanjaro travel info is intended to give you all the important facts about the Mountain that is the is the world’s highest trekking peak. It’s Africa’s highest mountain. It’s world’s biggest free-standing volcano. And it’s definitely the travel challenge of a lifetime.

Kili as it is fondly called looms large in the north of Tanzania, not far from the Kenyan border, Mount Kilimanjaro is a beacon to intrepid travellers. More than 40,000 trekkers a year attempt to reach its 5,895m summit – otherwise known as Uhuru Peak – using one of the 7 official Kilimanjaro routes to get there.

Regardless of which route up Kilimanjaro you choose, you will experience a range of terrain, from the thick rainforest of the lower slopes (where you might spot monkeys, birds and even big game), to the lobelia-dotted valleys further up, to the barren moonscapes of the highest altitudes.

While climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, you won’t be alone as Kilimanjaro is a popular trek, especially the well-worn Marangu (hutted) and Machame (camping) routes. Active Kilitop & Safaris will allocate you a vast crew of guides, cooks and porters who will be looking after you as you ascend: a group of ten trekkers might expect to have more than 30 support staff.

You might ask yourself why this vast but you will later find out that you need all this help: Mt. trek Kilimanjaro is hard work. Generally speaking,the gradients on Kilimanjaro aren’t super steep (with some notable exceptions) but the extremely high altitude makes every footstep a massive effort.

Most climbers on Mount Kilimanjaro fail to reach the peak as they ascend rather too quickly: a round trip up the mountain and down again is generally made in between five and six days, though some companies will go slower – To greatly increase your chance of success, a longer trip is highly recommended.

Yes, success: You might not believe it but a significant proportion of would-be Kilimanjaro summiteers don’t make it to the top, often defeated by the altitude. But that should not put you off. Kilimanjaro is hard, high, sweaty, basic, exhausting, possibly leading to failure.

But climbing Mount Kilimanjaro is also, undoubtedly one of the most rewarding, awe-inspiring and life-changing experiences open to the regular traveller.With a bit of preparation and a lot of determination, anyone can have a go.